Pool Terminology

Whether you are considering building a new pool, you are in the process of a build or you are a pool owner, this page of key industry terms will help you better understand some of the language that is spoken in the pool world!

Acid: A liquid or dry chemical used to lower the pH and/or alkalinity of pool or spa water.

Acid Wash: A procedure using an acid solution to clean an interior surface of a pool with subsequent neutralization of the acid.

Aggregate: Marble dust, sand, rocks, pebbles, colored quartz, dolomite and other similar materials used as components of concrete or plaster.

Air Blower: A device that produces a continuous flow of air.

Algae:Minute plant life growing in water in the presence of sunlight and carbon dioxide.

Anti-vortex Drain Cover: A plate or cover that is affixed to the main outlet of a swimming pool or spa that prevents a vortex from forming as water passes through to the main outlet.

Backfilling:Filling space between pool shell and sides of excavation with dirt.

Back Pressure:Resistance to flow, normally expressed in pounds per square inch (kilograms per square centimeter)

Backwash:Process of running water through a filter opposite the normal direction of flow to flush out contaminants.

Balance:The term in water chemistry to indicate that when measuring all components together, the water is neither scaling nor corrosive.

Ball Valve:A device utilizing a ball-shaped diverter to partially or totally obstruct the flow of water.

Barrier: A means to limit, delay, or restrict access to a pool, spa, or hot tub.

Bleeder Valve: A device that allows air to be vented from a system.

Blister: An area of raised surface detached from the structural matrix of a material.

Blower: An electromechanical device that generates air pressure to provide spa jets and rings with bubbles.

Bonding (electrical): The joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path, which will ensure electrical continuity.

Booster Pump System: A pump that is completely independent of the filtration and heating system. Used to provide support for hydrotherapy jets, cleaning systems and gas chlorinators or special water features.

Break in Grade: Occurs when the slope of the pool floor changes to a greater slope.

Brown Coat: A coat of plaster applied with a fairly rough texture to receive the finish coat.

BTU: British Thermal Unit. A unit of measurement used to define the capabilities of heaters. One BTU is capable of raising the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.

Bull Nose: A brick or stone with a rounded corner.

Cantilever: A projecting beam supported only at one end.

Cartridge: Disposable element containing filtering media and used in some pool filters.

Cartridge Filter: A filter that utilizes a porous element that acts as a filter medium.

Cement: A powdered substance of lime and clay generally mixed with water and aggregate to make concrete.

Check Valve: A valve that permits flow of water or air in only one direction through a pipe.

Checks (surface): Spider webbing pattern in a surface. Not all the way through, not an open crack.

Chlorine: A substance used to sanitize water by oxidizing (killing) bacteria; generally available in liquid, solid (tablets or sticks), and granular form.

Circuit Breaker: A device designed to open and close an electrical circuit manually, and to open a circuit automatically at a predetermined over current level, thus providing protection to the wiring and electrical components.

Circulation System: An arrangement of mechanical equipment and/or components designed to ensure even distribution of heat, chemicals, and filtration of water throughout the pool. Includes filters, heaters, pumps, chlorinators, piping, inlets, drains, skimmers and other appurtenances.

Coping: The cap on the wall that provides a finishing edge around the pool/spa. Can be formed, cast in place, precast, brick, stone, or pre-fabricated from metal or plastic material.

Cove: The radius that joins the floor and wall of a pool/spa.

Crack (surface): A repairable break in the surface, no major, not self-curing.

Crack (structural): A break or split which weakens the structural integrity of the pool.

Craze: See checks.

Decks: Those areas immediately adjacent to or attached to a pool or spa that are specifically constructed or installed for sitting, standing, or walking. Generally made of concrete, wood, or masonry.

Deep Area: Water depth areas exceeding five feet (5').

Diatomaceous Earth (DE): A white, powdery substance composed of tiny prehistoric skeletal remains of algae (diatoms), used as a water filtration media in DE filters.

Diverter: Plastic or bronze adapter pipe that fits into a skimmer port to facilitate connection of a vacuum hose. The diverter can divert all suction to the skimmer, closing off the main drain or vice versa.

Erosion: 1. Act of destroying or dissolving by slow disintegration or wearing away. 2. In an erosion feeder, it is the way water dissolves the chemical being fed.

Etching: Corrosion of a surface by water that is acidic or low in total alkalinity or hardness.

Evaporation: Conversion of liquid molecules into vapor.

Expansive Soil: Clay soils that absorb moisture and swells, creating the potential for damage to a structure.

Feet of Head: The resistance in a hydraulic system based on the equivalent to the height of a column of water that causes the same resistance (100 feet of head equals 43 pounds per square inch). The total dynamic head in the sum of all resistances in a complete operating system.

Filter: Device for removing suspended particles from pool water.

Filter Cycle: Time of filter operation between backwashes.

Filter Element: A device within a filter tank designed to entrap solids and conduct water to a manifold, collection header, pipe, or similar conduit and return it to the pool, spa, or hot tub. A filter element usually consists of a septum and septum support or a cartridge.

Flow Rate: The volume of liquid flowing past a given point in a specified time period. Usually expressed as U.S. gallons per minute (gpm) or gallons per hour (gph).

Friction Head: Head specifically caused by friction or drag.

GPD: Gallons per day.

GPH: Gallons per hour.

GPM: Gallons per minute.

Hardness: Also called "calcium hardness". The amount of dissolved minerals (mostly calcium and magnesium) in a body of water. In unbalanced water, high levels cause scale and low levels corrode surfaces and equipment.

Heater: A fossil-fueled, electric or solar device to heat the water of a pool or spa.

Fossil-fueled heaters use natural, propane gas or fuel oil and utilize an open flame to heat a heat exchanger.

Electric heaters utilize a heating element immersed in water.

Solar heaters utilize ultraviolet rays of the sun to heat the water.

Other ways to categorize heaters include:

Direct heaters that heat the tubes in which water circulates.

Indirect heaters that circulate steam or hot water inside a heat exchanger through which water flows.

Hydrotherapy Jet: A fitting that blends air and water creating a high-velocity turbulent stream of air-enriched water.

Impeller: The rotating vanes of a centrifugal pump; its action creates the flow of the water.

Influent: The water entering a filter or other device.

Jets: See Hydrotherapy Jets.

Manifold: A pipe with several openings for making multiple corrections.

Muriatic Acid: A dilute solution of hydrochloric acid used to lower alkalinity and clean masonry surfaces.

O-Ring: Thin rubber gasket used to create a waterproof seal in certain plumbing joints or between two parts of a device, such as between the lid and the strainer on a pump.

Overflow System: Refers to removal of pool/spa surface water through the use of overflows, surface skimmers, and surface water collection systems of various design and manufacture.

pH: Measure of acidity or alkalinity of water; pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is alkaline.

PPM: Parts per million (in a pool, parts of a chemical or mineral per million parts of water, by weight).

Plaster: A type of interior finish (a mixture of white cement and aggregate , which will accept a tint of color) which is applied to a concrete pool or spa. Also called Mar-cite or Marblite.

Pump: A mechanical device, usually powered by an electric motor, which causes hydraulic flow and pressure for the purpose of filtration, heating and circulation of pool and spa water. Typically, a centrifugal pump design is used for pool and spas.

Return Inlet: The aperture or fitting through which the water under positive pressure returns into a pool or spa.

Sand Filter: Pool filter using sand as filtering medium.

Scale: The precipitate that forms on surfaces in contact with water when the calcium hardness, or pH, or total alkalinity levels are too high.

Screed: In cement masonry flatwork, the wood or metal straightedge used to strike off or level newly placed concrete.

Shotcrete: A mixture of cement and sand, applied onto contoured and supported surfaces to build a pool or spa. Shotcrete is premixed and pumped wet to the construction site.

Shocking: See Super-chlorination.

Skimmer: A part of the circulation system that removes debris from the surface of the water. Through-wall: A device installed in the wall of an inground pool or spa or aboveground/onground pool that permits the continuous removal of floating debris and surface water to the filter.

Over-the-wall: A device installed over the wall of an aboveground/on-ground pool that allows for continuous removal of debris and surface water to the filter.

Slope: An inclined surface.

Strainer Basket: Device in skimmer and input side of pump used to catch large pieces of debris in pool water.

Suction Outlet: The aperture or fitting through which the water under negative pressure is drawn from the pool or spa.

Super-chlorination: Periodic application of extremely high levels of chlorine in (in excess of 3 ppm) to completely oxidize any organic material in a body of water and leave a substantial chlorine residual. Also called "shocking".

Swimming Load: Number of people using pool at a given time.

Test Kit: A device used to monitor specific chemical residual or demands in pool or spa water.

Three-Port Valve: A plumbing fitting used to divert flow from one direction into two other directions.

Time Clock: A mechanical device that automatically controls the periods that a pump, filter, heater, blower and other electrical devices are on.

Total Dynamic Head: See Feet of Head.

Turnover Rate: Number of times all the pool water passes through filter in a given time period.

Underwater Light: A fixture designed to illuminate from beneath the water surface.

Wet niche light: A watertight and water cooled light unit placed in a submerged niche in a pool, spa, or hot tub wall and accessible only from the pool.